Romeo and Juliet

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Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "There is no such thing as an accident; it is Fate misnamed." This is clearly shown in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is a play about love and hate and the eventual demise of "star-crossed lovers," Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare eloquently states throughout the play that Fate is to blame for the lover's deaths in the end. While some may argue that the characters are to blame due to their choices, which, the readers may claim, were acts or free will, the reality of the situation is that Fate is to blame for causing Romeo and Juliet to fall in love as well as causing the situations that led to their deaths.
To begin, Romeo and Juliet falling in love was all by the wicked hands of Fate. One example of Fate being behind the doomed love is seen at the beginning of the play, when Lord Capulet sends a servant out to invite people on a list he is given to a party at the Capulet house. The servant, unable to read, happens to bump into Romeo and asks for his help. Romeo, happy to oblige, sees Rosaline, his "love," is on the list and, after the servant kindly invites him to attend the party, Romeo debates whether or not he should go to the Capulet's house. Finally, after Benvolio, Romeo's cousin, insists Romeo goes to the party to at least compare Rosaline to the other women of Verona, Romeo declares, "I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, / But to rejoice in splendor of mine own" (1.2.107-8). Romeo has decided to attend the party in hopes that he may be able to win over his "love" Rosaline. But, without chance (i.e. fate) meddling in the affairs of both the Capulets and the Montagues, Romeo would have never been invited to the party. The servant of t...

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...kespeare, a play about love, hate, and the death of two doomed lovers, Fate is to blame for the lover's demise. While some may argue that Friar Laurence is the cause of Romeo and Juliet's death, Fate is actually to blame. This is shown clearly at the beginning of the play with the mention of "star-crossed lovers," as well as throughout the play with references to "fortune" or "stars." Fate caused Romeo and Juliet to fall in love as well as meddled in the situations regarding both Romeo and Juliet, therefore causing their demise and fulfilling its duty. While it may have been hard to see at times, Fate was omnipresent throughout the play and played a significant role in the end. The star-crossed lovers were doomed; they just refused to see their fate.

Works Cited

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet: And Related Readings. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 1997. Print.

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